Churches often ordered stained-glass windows painted with scenes from the lives of their patron saints. As the name suggests, the church of Saint-Pierre-du-Chatel was dedicated to St Peter. This panel is one of three that depict important episodes relating to Peter and the early years of the Christian church.
During his lifetime, Christ named Peter as the leader of the Apostles and thus the foundation stone (Latin petra) of the church.
Peter travelled to Rome on at least two occasions to spread the word of Christ. We know that he was executed there, probably during the period of persecution under the emperor Nero (AD 64–8). The earliest known account describing his death dates from the end of the 2nd century. Here Peter is shown being crucified upside down on a cross. Crucifixion was a common form of execution for non-Roman citizens, and tradition states that Peter refused to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.
Physical description
Stained glass panel depicting the crucifixion of St Peter.
St Peter, in a long red gown, is shown upside-down. Two men on either side are tying his legs to the inverted cross.
The slashing on the doublets of the two men who are tying Peter to the cross was done by abrading the flashed red on the clear glass.
Place of Origin
Normandy, France (made)
Date
ca. 1525-1530 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
de Nimegue, Arnoult (painted by)
Materials and Techniques
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and silver stain.
Dimensions
Height: 156.1 cm framed, Width: 67.1 cm framed, Depth: 3.2 cm framed, Weight: 12.0 kg framed, Height: 150.6 cm sight, Width: 62.2 cm sight
Object history note
From Saint-Pierre-du-Châtel, Rouen
Acquired from the Bernal Collection
Historical context note
The same scenes are depicted in glass from Saint-Vincent in Rouen (now in Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, Rouen) and in Notre-Dame du Grand-Andely, Les Andelys. They may have all derived from the same cartoon.
Descriptive line
Stained glass window depicting three scenes from the life of St Peter. From the church of Saint-Pierre-du-Chatel in Rouen, France, c.1525-30.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Williamson, Paul. Medieval and Renaissance Stained Glass in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2003. ISBN 1851774041
Bernard Rackham, A Guide to the Collecitons of Stained Glass, V&A Museum, 1936
(p.70) The introduction into French art about 1520 of the early Renaissance style from Italy had at first little effect on glass-painting. Its influence is seen in the adoption of classical instead of Gothic motives in ornamental accessories of costume, architectural canopies, or borders, but the technique and the general colour values of stained glass continued for some time on purely medieval lines. This is well seen in a series of three lights, of about 1525, from a church in Normandy, with scenes from the life and martyrdom of St Peter. In their rich colouring they approximate to many windows of the period to be seen in the parish churches of Rouen; only in the small classical details of architectural accessories and ornamental borders do they show the change to the fashions of the Renaissance.
Production Note
The style of these windows has been associated with the workshops run by the followers of Arnoult de Nimègue
Materials
Glass
Techniques
Painting; Silver staining; Abrasion
Subjects depicted
Cross; Soldier; Peter (Saint); Martyrdom
Categories
Christianity; Stained Glass
Collection code
CER
